Diffraction type filter having a wavelength selectivity

ABSTRACT

A diffraction grating having a wavelength selectivity is disposed at a peripheral region of a filter, and only a wavelength of light whose luminous flux diameter is to be narrowed is diffracted sideways at the diffraction grating, whereby the luminous flux diameter of irradiation light is changed by a simple configuration without complicating an electric control system or restricting the direction of vibration of the irradiation light. On a glass substrate 10, a first region 11 having no diffraction grating 12A and a second region 12 having diffraction gratings 12A with a rectangular cross section are disposed. The second region 12 comprises linearly arranged diffraction gratings 12A each having a rectangular cross section. The thickness (height) of each diffraction grating 12A is set to such a value that the ratio of ±first-order diffracted light is made greater for the light at a wavelength of 780 nm employed for CD-R, whereas the ratio of zero-order diffracted light becomes substantially 100% for the light at a wavelength of 635 nm employed for DVD.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 9,348,627 filed on Dec. 3, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a diffraction type filter used in an optical pickup apparatus which is commonly usable for two or more kinds of optical recording media. In the case where the optical recording media are irradiated with light beams having wavelengths different from each other depending on the kinds of optical recording media, the diffraction type filter can efficiently converge the light beams onto their corresponding optical recording media.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Recently, a variety of optical recording media have been under development, and optical pickup apparatus which can record and reproduce a plurality of kinds of optical recording media in common have been known.

For example, a optical pickup apparatus may be used for recording and reproducing both DVD (digital video disk) and CD-R (write-once optical disk). In this case, the value of numerical aperture NA for each recording medium is defined according to a standard, such that brightness is necessary for the numerical aperture of DVD, which is 0.6, for example, whereas brightness is suppressed in the numerical aperture of CD-R, which is 0.45, for example.

As a consequence, when a objective lens is to be used for recording and reproducing both of the above-mentioned media, it becomes necessary to switch the numerical aperture of the pickup optical system between their recording/reproducing operations.

Typically, the size of numerical aperture is switched by changing the luminous flux diameter. For example, a liquid crystal shutter may be driven in synchronization with the timing at which the recording/reproducing operations for both media are switched, so as to change the diameter of the luminous flux passing through the shutter.

When a liquid crystal shutter is used for changing the luminous flux diameter, an electric control system is needed for controlling the liquid crystal shutter, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost.

Also, since only a polarized light component having a predetermined direction of vibration can pass through the liquid crystal shutter, it is necessary to carry out designing in view of the direction of vibration of the irradiation light in order for the light to efficiently pass therethrough, whereby the degree of flexibility in designing is restricted.

In the above-mentioned two kinds of optical recording media, while visible light at about 635 nm, for example, is employed for DVD in order to improve its recording density, near infrared light at about 780 nm is needed for CD-R since it has no sensitivity to light in the visible region. As a consequence, an optical pickup apparatus which can commonly be used for both of them would be of a so-called two-wavelength beam system using two different wavelengths of light as the irradiation light. Hence, the luminous flux diameters of these two kinds of irradiation light may be changed by means of their difference in wavelength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the circumstances mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a diffraction type filter having a simple configuration which can change the luminous flux diameter of irradiation light without complicating its electric control system or restricting the direction of vibration of the irradiation light.

The diffraction type filter in accordance with the present invention is a diffraction type filter, having a wavelength selectivity, disposed in a luminous flux; the filter comprising a first region constituting a center portion of the filter, and a second region positioned outside the center portion of the filter, the first region exhibiting no diffracting action for two light beams respectively having wavelengths of λ₁ and λ₂ which are different from each other, the second region being formed with a diffraction grating having a diffracting action for only one of the two light beams respectively having wavelengths of λ₁ and λ₂.

The diffraction grating may be constituted by protrusions, each continuing in one direction and having a rectangular cross section, arranged with a predetermined pitch.

Preferably, the luminous flux incident on the diffraction type filter is substantially a parallel luminous flux.

The diffraction grating may have a height h satisfying the following conditional expressions (1) and (2):

    h=Lλ.sub.1 /(n.sub.1 -1)                            (1)

    h=Mλ.sub.2 /(n.sub.2 -1)+Kλ.sub.2 /2(n.sub.2 -1)(2)

where

λ₁ and λ₂ are the respective wavelengths of the two incident light beams;

n₁ is the refractive index of the diffraction grating with respect to light having a wavelength of λ₁ ;

n₂ is the refractive index of the diffraction grating with respect to light having a wavelength of λ₂ ;

L is a positive integer;

M is the maximum value among 0 and positive integers satisfying a conditional expression of h>Mλ₂ /(n₂ -1); and

K is a value at least 0.65 but not greater than 1.35.

The diffraction type filter may be disposed in front of a convergent lens for converging the luminous flux.

The diffraction type filter may be configured such that the luminous flux is converted at a position where at least two kinds of optical recording media are placed, at least one of at least two kinds of optical media is recorded or reproduced with the light beam having a wavelength of λ₁, the rest is recorded or reproduced with the light beam having a wavelength of λ₂ different from the wavelength of λ₁, and the diffraction grating diffracts only one of the two light beams having different wavelengths into a direction different from the light-converging direction of the convergent lens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a diffraction type filter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views for explaining operations of the diffraction type filter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the form of the diffraction type filter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the diffraction efficiency of the diffraction grating shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the form of the diffraction type filter in accordance with an embodiment different from that shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an optical pickup apparatus employing the diffraction type filter shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, an optical pickup apparatus employing a diffraction type filter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 6.

In this optical pickup apparatus, laser light beams 2 emitted from semiconductor lasers 1B and 1C when electric power is supplied thereto from an LD power supply 1A are reflected by a half mirror 3, are turned into parallel light by a collimator lens 4, and then are changed into convergent light by an objective lens 5 so as to irradiate a recording area 6A of an optical disk 6. Here, the semiconductor laser 1B is a light source for emitting laser light at a wavelength of 780 nm in the near infrared region for CD-R (write-once optical disk), whereas the semiconductor laser 1C is a light source for emitting laser light in the visible region, e.g., at a wavelength of 635 nm, for DVD (digital video disk). By way of a half mirror 1D, one of the laser light beams 2 emitted from the semiconductor lasers 1B and 1C irradiates the half mirror 3. A selector switch 1E is disposed between the LD power supply 1A and the semiconductor lasers 1B and 1C, such that electric power is supplied to one of the semiconductor lasers 1B and 1C as the selector switch 1E is operated.

In the recording area 6A, pits carrying signal information are arranged in a track. Of the laser light beams 2, the reproducing light component reflected from the recording area 6A, in a state carrying the signal information, is made incident on the half mirror 3 by way of the objective lens 5 and collimator lens 4, and then passes through the half mirror 3 so as to enter a photodiode 7 which has been divided into four parts. In the photodiode 7, the respective quantities of light received at positions of the four divided diode parts are operated, so as to yield a data signal and respective error signals for focusing and tracking.

As the half mirror 3 is inserted with an inclination of 45° into the optical path of the light returning from the optical disk 6, it would yield a function equivalent to that of a cylindrical lens. Thus, the light beam passing through the half mirror 3 exhibits astigmatism, whereby the amount of error in focusing would be determined in response to the form of the beam spot of returned light on the four-divided photodiode 7. The collimator lens 4 may be omitted according to circumstances. A diffraction grating may further be inserted between the semiconductor laser 1B, 1C and the half mirror 3, so as to detect tracking errors by means of three beams.

This optical pickup apparatus is constituted such as to be capable of recording and reproducing signals on any optical disk 6 of CD-R and DVD.

While the geometrical thickness values of CD-R and DVD are standardized at 1.2 mm and 0.6 mm, respectively, focusing can securely be effected for any of these optical disks 6.

Both CD-R and DVD have a protective sheet made of PC (polycarbonate; refractive index n_(D) =1.514).

For the CD-R and DVD, the optical system requires different numerical apertures NA, which are set to 0.45 and 0.6, respectively.

Hence, when the same objective lens 5 is used as with this optical pickup apparatus, it is necessary to switch NA, depending on whether CD-R or DVD is recorded/reproduced, to the value corresponding to the recording medium.

Therefore, in this optical pickup apparatus, a diffraction type filter 8 adapted to narrow the luminous flux diameter of the laser light from the light source is placed between the collimator lens 4 and the objective lens 5 only when recording/reproducing CD-R, thereby switching the NA of the optical system in response to the kinds of optical disks 6 to be recorded/reproduced.

Namely, as shown in FIG. 1, the diffraction type filter 8 comprises a first region 11 made of a central circular portion, and a second region 12 constituting a peripheral portion thereof. The first region 11 transmits therethrough any wavelength of light, whereas the second region 12 is formed with a diffraction grating having such a wavelength selectivity that light at a wavelength of 635 nm is transmitted therethrough and that the major part of light at a wavelength of 780 is diffracted sideways.

The operation of the diffraction type filter 8 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Namely, in the case where a CD-R 26 is placed at a predetermined position (on a turntable) so as to be recorded/reproduced as shown in FIG. 2A, the laser light beam 2 at a wavelength of 780 nm from the semiconductor laser 1B would be made incident on the diffraction type filter 8 while being in substantially a parallel light state. Here, since the diameter of the incident laser light beam 2 is set larger than that of the first region 11 in the diffraction type filter 8, the marginal portion of the light beam would be made incident on the second region 12 of the diffraction type filter 8.

Of the light beam, the center portion incident on the first region 11 passes through the diffraction type filter 8 as it is, whereas the marginal portion incident on the second region 12 is diffracted sideways on both sides due to the action of the diffraction grating in the second region 12. As a consequence, the laser light beam 2 effectively contributing to recording/reproducing in the recording area 26A of the CD-R 26 is only the part made incident on the first region 11 of the diffraction type filter 8, whereby the beam diameter would be substantially narrowed, thus allowing the numerical aperture NA to decrease.

The diffracting action in the second region 12 with respect to light at a wavelength of 780 mm is such that the ratio of ±first-order diffracted light becomes greater than that of the zero-order diffracted light.

In the case where a DVD 36 is placed at a predetermined position (on a turntable) so as to be recorded/reproduced as shown in FIG. 2B, on the other hand, the laser light beam 2 at a wavelength of 635 nm from the semiconductor laser 1C would be made incident on the diffraction type filter 8 while being in substantially a parallel light state. Here, though the diameter of the incident laser light beam 2 is set larger than that of the first region 11 in the diffraction type filter 8, the diffraction grating in the second region 12 does not exhibit any diffracting action with respect to the light at a wavelength of 635 nm (the ratio of zero-order diffracted light is substantially 100%), thus allowing the marginal portion of the light beam to pass through the diffraction type filter 8 as it is, whereby the light beam 2 is converged onto the recording area 36A of the DVD 36 without changing its diameter.

Here, the diffracting action in the second region 12 with respect to light at a wavelength of 635 mm is such that the ratio of zero-order diffracted light is substantially 100%, whereas that of the ±first-order and higher diffracted light is substantially 0%.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional configuration of the diffraction type filter 8, in which the first region 11 having no diffraction grating 12A and the second region 12 having diffraction gratings 12A with a rectangular cross section are formed on a glass substrate 10.

The second region 12 is constituted by linearly arranged diffraction gratings 12A each having a rectangular cross section, whose pitch is set within the range where a diffraction phenomenon occurs while productivity is favorable, e.g., 10 to 20 μm.

The thickness (height) h of each diffraction grating 12A is set to such a value that the ratio of ±first-order diffracted light is made greater for the light at a wavelength of 780 nm employed for CD-R, whereas the ratio of zero-order diffracted light becomes substantially 100% for the light at a wavelength of 635 nm employed for DVD.

Namely, the following conditional expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied:

    h=Lλ.sub.1 /(n.sub.1 -1)                            (1)

    h=Mλ.sub.2 /(n.sub.2 -1)+Kλ.sub.2 /2(n.sub.2 -1)(2)

where

λ₁ and λ₂ are the respective wavelengths of the two incident light beams;

n₁ is the refractive index of the diffraction grating with respect to light having a wavelength of λ₁ ;

n₂ is the refractive index of the diffraction grating with respect to light having a wavelength of λ₂ ;

L is a positive integer;

M is the maximum value among 0 and positive integers satisfying a conditional expression of h>Mλ₂ /(n₂ -1); and

K is a value at least 0.65 but not greater than 1.35.

The above-mentioned conditional expression (1) defines a condition for the diffraction efficiency of the zero-order diffracted light to become 100% for the light at a wavelength of λ₁ (light at a wavelength of 635 nm for DVD), whereas the above-mentioned conditional expression (2) is a condition for the diffraction efficiency of ±first-order diffracted light to become higher than that of zero-order diffracted light for the light at a wavelength of λ₂ (light at a wavelength of 780 nm for CD).

In the above-mentioned conditional expression (2), as the value of K is closer to 1.0, the diffraction efficiency of zero-order light becomes smaller, whereby the diffraction efficiency of zero-order light becomes zero when K=1.0.

FIG. 4 shows how the ratios of zero-order diffracted light and ±first-order diffracted light change in response to the value of K when the above-mentioned conditional expression (2) is used, indicating that the ratio of ±first-order diffracted light is not smaller than that of zero-order diffracted light within the range of 0.65≦K≦1.35.

The diffracting grating 12A is formed as titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is deposited on the glass substrate 10. Titanium dioxide exhibits a refractive index of 2.349 for light at a wavelength of 635 nm and a refractive index of 2.299 for light at a wavelength of 780 nm.

A protrusion 11A shown in FIG. 5 may be formed at the first region 11. In this case, the height and material thereof are made similar to those of the diffraction grating 12A. With no diffraction phenomenon occurring in this case, effects similar to those in the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained as well.

The sizes of the beam diameters of two laser light beams 2 having different wavelengths at the time when they are incident on the diffraction type grating 8, 8A may appropriately be set as long as their diameters are greater than the diameter of the first region 11.

Without being restricted to the above-mentioned embodiments, the diffraction type filter in accordance with the present invention can be modified in various manners. For example, plastic materials may be used as a material for forming the substrate, whereas various other materials such as metals, metal oxides, and nonmetallic materials may be used as a material for forming the diffraction grating. Also, the substrate and the diffraction grating may be integrally molded from plastics.

The technique of forming the grating is not restricted to deposition, but various techniques such as sputtering, plating, and roll coating may be used as well.

When the present invention is applied to an optical pickup apparatus, the optical recording media to be recorded/reproduced are not limited to DVD and CD-R. The present invention is also applicable to any case where two types of optical recording media which are different from each other in their specifications of usable wavelength region and NA are recorded/reproduced by means of a common optical pickup apparatus.

Further, the value of L in the above-mentioned conditional expression (1) may be set to a value different from integers within the range not problematic in practice, such that K is set to a value at least 0.65 but not greater than 1.35.

In the following, the diffraction type filter in accordance with the present invention will further be explained with reference to Examples employing specific values.

EXAMPLE 1

The material for forming the diffraction grating was titanium dioxide (TiO₂), whereas the wavelength λ₁ of light irradiating DVD was set to 635 nm. As a consequence, the refractive index n₁ of titanium dioxide with respect to this light became 2.349. Letting L=2 in the above-mentioned conditional expression (1), the height h of the diffraction grating became 0.94144 μm.

Here, letting the wavelength λ₂ of light irradiating CD-R be 780 nm, the refractive index of titanium dioxide with respect to this light was 2.299.

Also, in this case, M=1 and K=1.136 in the above-mentioned conditional expression (2).

Here, the diffraction efficiency for the light at a wavelength of 635 nm was such that the ratio of zero-order diffracted light was 100%.

For the light at a wavelength of 780 nm, the ratio of zero-order diffracted light was 4.5%, whereas the ratio of ±first-order diffracted light was 38.7%.

EXAMPLE 2

Though the material for forming the diffraction grating, the wavelength λ₁ of light irradiating DVD, and the refractive index n₁ of the material were the same as those in Example 1, L=3 was set in the above-mentioned conditional expression (1). As a consequence, the height h of the diffraction grating became 1.41216 μm.

Letting the wavelength λ₂ of light irradiating CD-R be the same as that in Example 1, M=2 and K=0.704 in the conditional expression (2).

Here, the diffraction efficiency for the light at a wavelength of 635 nm was such that the ratio of zero-order diffracted light was 100%.

For the light at a wavelength of 780 nm, the ratio of zero-order diffracted light was 20.2%, whereas the ratio of ±first-order diffracted light was 32.4%.

EXAMPLE 3

Though the material for forming the diffraction grating, the wavelength λ₁ of light irradiating DVD, and the refractive index n₁ of the material were the same as those in Example 1, L=11 was set in the above-mentioned conditional expression (1). As a consequence, the height h of the diffraction grating became 5.17791 μm.

Letting the wavelength λ₂ of light irradiating CD-R be the same as that in Example 1, M=8 and K=1.246 in the conditional expression (2).

Here, the diffraction efficiency for the light at a wavelength of 635 nm was such that the ratio of zero-order diffracted light was 100%.

For the light at a wavelength of 780 nm, the ratio of zero-order diffracted light was 14.3%, whereas the ratio of ±first-order diffracted light was 34.8%.

As explained in the foregoing, in the diffraction type filter in accordance with the present invention, a diffraction grating having a wavelength selectivity is disposed at a peripheral region of the filter, such as to diffract sideways only a wavelength of light whose luminous flux diameter is to be narrowed.

As a consequence, of the light irradiating this diffraction type filter, a wavelength of light whose luminous flux diameter is not needed to be narrowed is transmitted therethrough with its luminous flux diameter unchanged, thereby maintaining the NA of the optical system at a large value. On the other hand, for a wavelength of light whose luminous flux diameter is to be narrowed, only the luminous flux portion irradiating the center part of the filter is transmitted therethrough, so as to narrow the luminous flux diameter, thus allowing the optical system to have a smaller value of NA.

Hence, in the optical pickup apparatus commonly used for DVD and CD-R in which it is necessary to switch the size of NA, the present invention taking account of the fact that the wavelengths of light to be used for the respective optical recording media are different from each other is quite effectively employed. Namely, NA can be switched so as to correspond to each optical recording medium when the diffraction type filter in accordance with the present invention is simply inserted at a predetermined position, while substantially using the configuration of the conventional optical pickup apparatus. Consequently, without necessitating an electric control system for controlling a liquid crystal panel, which is required when changing the luminous flux diameter by means of a liquid crystal shutter, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Also, there is no risk of the direction of vibration of irradiation light being restricted such as to lower the degree of flexibility in designing. Hence, the practical value of the present invention is quite high. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A diffraction type filter, having a wavelength selectivity disposed in a luminous flux; said filter comprising a first region constituting a center portion of said filter, and a second region positioned outside the center portion of said filter, said first region exhibiting no diffracting action for two light beams respectively having wavelengths of λ₁ and λ₂ which are different from each other, said second region being formed with a diffraction grating having a diffracting action for only one of said two light beams respectively having wavelengths of λ₁ and λ₂ ;wherein said diffraction grating has a height h satisfying the following conditional expressions (1) and (2):

    h=Lλ.sub.1 /(n.sub.1 -1)                            (1)

    h=Mλ.sub.2 /(n.sub.2 -1)+Kλ.sub.2 /2(n.sub.2 -1)(2)

where λ₁ and λ₂ are the respective wavelengths of the two incident light beams; n₁ is the refractive index of the diffraction grating with respect to light having the wavelength of λ₂ ; n₂ is the refractive index of the diffraction grating with respect to light having the wavelength of λ₂ ; L is a positive integer; M is a maximum value among 0 and positive integers satisfying a conditional expression of h>Mλ₂ /(₂ -1); and K is a value at least 0.65 but not greater than 1.35.
 2. A diffraction type filter according to claim 1, wherein said diffraction grating is constituted by protrusions, each continuing in one direction and having a rectangular cross section, arranged with a predetermined pitch.
 3. A diffraction type filter according to claim 2, wherein the luminous flux incident on said diffraction type filter is substantially a parallel luminous flux.
 4. A diffraction type filter according to claim 1, wherein said diffraction type filter is disposed in front of a convergent lens for converging said luminous flux.
 5. A diffraction type filter according to claim 4, wherein said luminous flux is converted at a position where at least two kinds of optical recording media are placed, at least one of at least two kinds of optical media being recorded or reproduced with the light beam having the wavelength of λ₁, the rest being recorded or reproduced with the light beam having the wavelength of λ₂ different from the wavelength of λ₁, said diffraction grating diffracting only one of said two light beams having different wavelengths into a direction different from a light-converging direction of said convergent lens. 